Electro-pop outfit Leverage Models will play Kung Fu Necktie tonight. The band professes that it makes “secular songs about transubstantiation with rototoms.” It doesn’t matter if that statement confuses you, their music speaks for itself and it’s interesting to say the least. The band released its self-titled debut album in March on Hometapes Records. Watch their latest video for “Sweep” below and get tickets here.

Bucks County’s Lily Mae was the focus of this week’s Key Studio Session. Mae performed on the Philly Local Stage at the Philadelphia Folk Festival this August and released her debut EP Early Dayslast year. Download the title track below and get the full set here, which includes a few unreleased songs and a duet.

Stephen Kellogg (of Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) stopped by Folkadelphia to record a few live songs. Taken from his recent solo album Blunderstone Rookery, the four songs are intimate, personal and sincere. Stream and download the session below. Kellogg plays World Cafe Live on November 29th; tickets and information can be found here.

Missouri’s Leverage Models is Shannon Fields and friends, including members of Yeasayer, LCD Soundsystem and Sinkane. On his self-titled debut, out tomorrow (October 1st) on Hometapes, Fields and company make sonically sophisticated, colorful, swirling, syncopated rhythmic deco-music; think Heaven 17, a little early years-Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, ABC, The Cure. Prior to Leverage Models, Fields started the indie anarchistic folk collective, Stars Like Fleas, and has played with Helado Negro. You can listen to the entire album on Pitchfork Advance, or sample “Sweep” below, featuring Sharon Van Etten.

XPN welcomes Strand of Oaks to Johnny Brenda’s tonight for his first headlining Philadelphia show. The stage name of local bearded guy Tim Showalter, Strand of Oaks is a vehicle for storytelling and yarn-spinning that has taken Showalter through the darker days of his life and into the better-lit year of 2012; this year saw the release of Strand of Oaks’ third full-length Dark Shores and a tour with Swedish one-man-show The Tallest Man on Earth. Also playing tonight are local acts Buried Beds and Little Big League. Tickets and information for the 21+ show are available here. Below, watch a live video of Showalter and band performing the title track from Dark Shores.

About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH

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About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH